In this post, quotes from Google AI are in light blue font.
Image: “Murder in the House,” by Jakub Schikaneder, 1890, in Wikimedia Commons … https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jakub_Schikaneder_-_Murder_in_the_House.JPG … public domain
Image: “Murder in the House,” by Jakub Schikaneder, 1890, in Wikimedia Commons … https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jakub_Schikaneder_-_Murder_in_the_House.JPG … public domain
- WHAT ARE THE “SLAYER STATUTES”?
- CONCLUSION
WHAT ARE THE “SLAYER STATUTES”?
Dear Ones,
I asked Google AI: What are the “Slayer Statutes”? [This is in the United States.]
Google AI said: “Slayer statutes are state-level laws, or common law rules, that legally prevent an individual who intentionally and feloniously kills someone from inheriting property, receiving insurance proceeds, or benefiting financially from the victim’s estate. These laws ensure murderers cannot profit from their crimes.
Key Aspects of Slayer Statutes:
- Application: They apply to wills, trusts, intestacy (dying without a will), and non-probate assets like life insurance policies.
- Definition of ‘Slayer’: Usually defined as someone who willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously causes the death of another.
- Legal Fiction: The law typically treats the killer as having predeceased the victim, meaning the killer is treated as if they died before the victim.
- Exceptions: These rules generally do not apply to killings in self-defense, or instances of accidental or negligent manslaughter.
- Scope: In addition to inheritance, these statutes often prevent the killer from serving as a fiduciary, such as an executor, trustee, or guardian for the victim.
Common Scenarios:
- A spouse murdering their partner for insurance money.
- A child killing a parent to inherit assets.
Many states, such as California and Texas, have codified these rules into their probate codes. Some jurisdictions have expanded these rules to include cases of elder abuse.”
CONCLUSION
My thanks to Google AI for this response.
In love, light and joy
This is Alice B. Clagett.
I Am of the Stars … and so are you!
Compiled and published on 31 January 2026; revised on 17 February 2026
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0). Attribution: By Alice B. Clagett.
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murder, law, crime prevention, crime, United States, inheritance, larceny, life insurance,
